jetty

¹ American  

[jet-ee] / ˈdʒɛt i /

noun

• jetties
  plural

1. a pier or structure of stones, piles, or the like, projecting into the sea or other body of water to protect a harbor, deflect the current, etc.

2. a wharf or landing pier.

3. the piles or wooden structure protecting a pier.

4. Also an overhang, as of an upper story beyond a lower.

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verb (used with object)

jettied, jettying

1. to construct (part of a building) so that it projects beyond lower construction; jutty.

jetty ² American  

[jet-ee] / ˈdʒɛt i /

adjective

1. made of jet.

2. resembling jet, especially in color; of a deep black.

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jetty ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒɛtɪ /

noun

1. a structure built from a shore out into the water to direct currents or protect a harbour

2. a landing pier; dock

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jetty ² British  

/ ˈdʒɛtɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling jet, esp in colour or polish

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• jettiness
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• jetties
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of jetty¹

1375–1425; late Middle English get ( t ) ey < Old French jetee, literally, something thrown out, a projection, noun use of jetee, feminine past participle of jeter to throw; see jet ¹

Origin of jetty²

First recorded in 1475–85; jet ² + -y ¹

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Explanation

A jetty is a narrow structure that's built to stretch from land out into the water. Some jetties act as docks or piers for boats. A man-made jetty is often a protective barrier against beach erosion, and it also provides pedestrians access to boats or fishing areas. Jetties are generally made of concrete, wood, or stone. Jetty comes from the French jetee, which means both "a throw" and "a projecting part of a structure," or "a part that's 'thrown out' beyond the main structure."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jetty jetties jettied

From Barra we went to a jetty of land on the island of Vatersay, where we invented a golf course, playing around cows to reach objects in the distance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

Because it protrudes at a slight angle, swells approaching from the south or southwest bounce off the jetty and mutate into triangular peaks—hence the spot’s name.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

The area historically has been hardest hit by high surf when powerful waves pass between the Alamitos Bay jetty and the breakwater which together act as a barrier between the ocean and the community.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

At the dimly lit town market, a few hundred metres from the jetty, the stalls are still well stocked with fish, shrimp and blue crabs.

From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026

The jetty that divided the inner and outer harbors had been fortified with a long stone wall, thirty feet tall and almost a mile long, with towers every hundred yards.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Some of the newly uncovered objects are from the city’s unsuccessful attempts to build jetties in the early 1900s, before the Army Corps of Engineers took over, said local historian William Lobdell.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Officials urge beachgoers to stay off rocks and jetties at times of high surf and keep an eye on the ocean.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

"We are going to augment facilities -- either by reconstruction, or construction of new jetties," he said, underlining that his service's mandate is to "touch every island".

From Barron's ● May 18, 2026

Very large tankers - capable of carrying up to 85 million gallons of oil - are able to come up to the island's long jetties to pick up the oil.

From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2026

It pounds the jetties with such force that the water sprays straight up into the air, creating giant walls of water that soar and then come crashing down on the rocks.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

A number of questions crowded to Gregory's mind, as they crossed the jettied inlet and headed down the coast.

From El Diablo by Dan Sayre Groesbeck

One of the ships lay at the little island of Onroost, which is piled and jettied all around, and contained a small and compact repairing yard for merchant vessels of all nations.

From The Life of Admiral Viscount Exmouth by Edward Osler

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Related Words

• seawall
• wharf

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